A writer-mom's life is filled with a million and two distractions; sometimes she finds herself at the park, WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK

Speaking Spanglish

When I was young, my father thought it was important for his children to speak Spanish. Growing up in Southern California, I can see why he thought this would be a good thing. I remember sitting at our favorite Mexican restaurant while dad taught us the Spanish words for spoon, fork, chips, etc… This information would help me later in life when I became a manager at a restaurant and I was required to communicate with some of the employees. Thanks to my dad I was able to state such valuable phrases such as “No lechuga in the sink” or “Clean the baño, por favor”.

Years later I was easily able to speak with my mother-in-law who lapses from English to Spanish in the blink of an eye. I would find myself translating her “Spanglish” for my husband and my children nearly every conversation. I began to see the wisdom of teaching my children basic Spanish vocabulary if only so that they could understand their grandmother better.

I decided to follow in my father’s footsteps and each night at dinner I would teach them basic Spanish words. I am a writer however, I take inspiration from real life, so I wrote a simple story about a boy who loses his ball in his grandmother’s pear tree and tries to get it out. This book “Grandma’s Pear Tree” was picked up by Raven Tree Press and according to Amazon.com will be released on March 31, 2010.

It is my hope that this story will help children in the future so that when they have to communicate they can say in true “Spanglish” style; “Throw el gato into the tree” or “Use la escoba to get your things down”.